2022 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, especially in its Black Label trim with 21-inch machined-finish wheels, was an attractive SUV. Its styling was balanced and detailed, giving it plenty of character without appearing plain. At night, the Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence greeted drivers, and the Black Label model offered luxurious interior themes like Chalet and Flight, featuring premium leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner. However, some chrome-plated plastic pieces in the center console looked a bit cheap.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance models, showcased a more minimalistic and contemporary design. The RX 350h Luxury model featured Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had a sportier interior with artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim. Despite its popularity, the RX's design was not considered gorgeous, with a blunt nose and a visually shortened rear end. The interior, however, was clean and modern, with backlit ambient lighting and a new Lexus Interface infotainment system.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered two engine options. The standard and Reserve trims came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, with front-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard, and all-wheel drive as an option. The Black Label trim featured a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine with 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, requiring all-wheel drive. The Nautilus had Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with the adaptive suspension adjusting accordingly. The twin-turbo V6 delivered an EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg in combined driving, and during a long road trip, it averaged 25 mpg.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a more efficient powertrain. The RX 350h featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, and was expected to average 36 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a hybrid system, delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. However, it was expected to get no better than 27 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h also featured an adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering, making it more athletic and fun to drive. Despite its performance, the RX 500h averaged only 20.9 mpg during testing.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label offered a luxurious interior with smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive. The front seats were heated, ventilated, and power-adjustable, with an optional 22-way power front seat upgrade that included massage programs. However, the rear seats, while heated and reclining, were cramped for a midsize SUV. The Nautilus provided 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 68.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 350h Luxury model, featured ten-way power-adjustable front seats with premium leather and three-zone automatic climate control. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model had eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard-grade leather. The rear seats, while offering good leg support and legroom, had tight headroom due to the higher placement of the battery pack and a lower roofline. The RX provided 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, a significant improvement over the previous model.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 4 software. This system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Lincoln Connect, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The Black Label trim also offered connected navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Revel premium audio system. The system was intuitive and user-friendly, with separate physical stereo and climate controls. Additionally, the Nautilus offered Phone as a Key, allowing drivers to use their smartphone as a digital key.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, the Lexus Interface, which required activation of connected services plans after the complimentary trial subscriptions expired. The system included Service Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Drive Connect, with a cloud-based navigation system and an Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant. While the system worked reasonably well, it had some drawbacks, such as the inability to view multiple screen menus simultaneously, reflections on the touchscreen, and the lack of a tuning knob. The available head-up display also had issues with polarized sunglasses, making it difficult to see the display.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Black Label trim added Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera system, and parking sensors. The Nautilus received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance with front cross-traffic alert, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. The RX also had Proactive Driving Assist, which slowed the vehicle when the accelerator pedal was released. While the safety features operated mostly with refinement and accuracy, there were some irritations, such as the front cross-traffic alert system and the curve-speed reduction tech. The RX also offered Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park, although these features were not tested.